before asking directly the bank - and in order to go there already well informed, what are the steps for closing a UBS private bank account (with relative maestro & credit card)?
What worries me most is: are there any closure expenses?
Is it just something easy - step into any UBS branch, ask for the modules, fill them up, indicate to which IBAN move off the liquidity and that's it?
While I can't imagine there are any charges to close an account (other than transmission charges for sending funds), and I know there are no charges for members of the US Mission in Geneva (UBS has a branch in the Mission), if you tell the bank that you are moving to the USA or are about to become a "US person" for tax purposes, they will be only too glad to close your account with no charges and no hesitation.
They are, in fact, closing (some or all) accounts involuntarily for anyone other than Swiss diplomats with a US address. My daughter got such a letter.
Switzerland is unhappy with US attitudes to secrecy here and are actively trying to get rid of all accounts held by US nationals, this I have recently read but cannot remember where, probably in the newspaper "Der Bund"
You need to contact the branch where you opened the account, and you will be charged about CHF 17 for closing an account.
Check your account conditions. My UBS account conditions say that you can't withdraw anymore than 100k without 3 months notice or they charge you a 1% fee on the amount over.
I went into my UBS branch and asked the question on monday - all they need is a signed letter stating you wish to close the account, when and details of where they should transfer the balance too - no costs - sounds very straight forward, not tried it yet!
Can we close the UBS private bank account indirectly(with no physical presence). I mean , if I return back to my country, without intimating the bank, and hold it for few months till all my settlements happens and then sending mail to UBS bank to close this account. Will that work?